About 10-20 miles outside of Mena, Arkansas (where our grandparents, and my dad lived) my grandpa hit a small deer (the deer down there are small anyway compared to Iowa deer). Praise the Lord there was no accident on the mountain, and no damage to the car. Grandpa was going slow anyway because it was only 40 miles per hour in that area plus it was dark. The deer kept going. It sure startled all of us though big time. A guy that was behind us stopped to make sure we were all okay. Which we all were. What was so funny was Joel, because you never knew what he would say. Joel said, "Papa Bob you hit a big goat." we tried telling him it was a small deer. Then as we were leaving Joel said, "Papa go back, you need to find the goat he is hurt, he needs me to take care of him. You meany you hurt his back." All our grandparents and I wanted to do was laugh, but we didn't. We just told Joel that the deer would be fine.
We most hung out around Mena that week. We went to the park, took walks, even went up to Iron Mountain again. We also went and visited one of our grandparent's neighbors Lavern. Who we have know for many years. She is such a dear Christian lady. She is 90+ years and lives on her own. She never had any children of her own, but she loves children. She use to be a school teacher many many years ago. It is so nice to go over and listen to her talk. She really loves Joel. We also went uptown to Mena's Lum and Abner Day parade. Which was short, but Joel loved it.
One of the days while we were down in Arkansas our grandparents and my dad decided it would be fun to drive over to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Which is about a 2hr drive from Mena. Joel loved the seeing the country side. So, did I. We went to Bathhouse Row. Which is part of the historical part and downtown of Hot Springs. It was so nice to touch the warm water that was coming out of the springs. I can not believe at first that people fill jugs of water from those springs or drinks right out of it. Later I found out that the water from those springs are actually good for you because of the minerals that are in them. Some of the bathhouses in Hot Springs are still functioning while many has been turned into museums. One of the bathhouses is actually a museum of what it use to be like in the older days. It was so nice to tour and see. They even have an old fashion somewhat elevator. I hope to someday be able to go into one of the other bathhouses and actually enjoy a spa and everything that comes with it.
When we were on Iron Mountain Joel, Grandpa, Grandma, my Dad, and Me road the little train around the top of the mountain. Joel was so thrilled that he got to ride the train. He even was good to get off. We had a fun experience while up there and on the little train. Joel's hat flew off because of the wind. Luckily it flew off where we could go back and get it. Phew, we found it and got it back. I did not need to buy another hat, or have a very upset boy.
Then as we were coming back down from the mountain we saw something along side of the road. My youngest brother had found a turtle along the mountain down there before. I thought if I ever found a turtle I would get it for Joel to have as a pet. Sure enough what we saw was a small turtle. We picked it up. Joel was so thrilled to get him/her (don't know for sure which). Joel named him Joc and we even brought him home to live with us. Which was fun to bring on the trip home.
My dad drove us home. I told him to just take it easy that we wanted to have fun on the way home. Which we did. I really did not care about money, I just took out what I needed for bills and things, and just bugetted around what I wanted to spend site seeing. On the way down it took us 7 hours. On the way home it took us 15 hours so you know we took it slow and had fun site seeing.
Our first stop on the way home was the National Air Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Both my dad and Joel loves airplanes. They were like kids in a candy store. Those two were so happy. Even my dad was so amazed. They had all sorts of planes and automobiles. They had old planes and even a few newer planes. The had old buggies and very old cars. Outside they had some planes you could get close to, touch, or even went inside. My son got to sit in an old cockpit of a fighter plane. My dad, and my favorite part, but Joel liked to was the old war planes and things from all the wars. Okay I was a kid in a candy store too. It was so nice to teach my son about things there. I love some all war things, but not a buff about them. It was nice to learn as I was teaching him about the planes and wars. Joel said that people need to quit being mean to one another so there would be no wars. Okay my son was three at the time, and he spoke from his heart.
Our next stop was War Eagle Cavern in northern Arkansas. Yes it was a little way a was but so much fun. It is a small cave, but there is so much learning there. I prayed though that Joel would be really good. Which he was. It was a big walk for us but it was okay. Thank goodness it was a small cave. There were a couple of other boys and their mom in the group that were older than Joel. Joel was more well behaved than them. Joel listened to our tour guide. He loved the cave. He was excited when he got to see bats and salamanders. He even touched a red salamander. After we got done Joel had a melt down on the way to the car because he did not want to leave. I told him that someday I would take him to other caves as he got older.
We stopped right before the Arkansas/ Missouri border at Bella Vista, Arkansas for supper. We went to Gusanos which is an Chicago style pizza place. Oh my goodness that places rocked. The food was so good. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water like crazy. So, if you are ever in that area and you want some good pizza stop there. I hope that someday I can go back there again. One day I want to take my mom and step dad down there to eat and then see my mom's brother and sister-in-law.
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